Financial Resource Guide

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on alternative financial resources for students facing economic challenges. Traditional part-time employment may not always be the immediate solution for students facing financial strain. Whether you're seeking alternative avenues to cover expenses or looking to supplement your income, this resource hub is designed to provide you with a variety of avenues to seek financial support. Explore a range of opportunities, from loans and grants to scholarships and non-financial resources, tailored to support you on your academic and financial path. Your success matters to us, and we're here to help you discover the resources that best fit your unique needs.

• Non-monetary support
• Grants
  • For all students
  • For undergraduate students
  • For graduate students
• Loans

Non-monetary support

Explore essential non-monetary support resources at Binghamton University designed for your well-being and academic success.

Resource	Support Provided	Contact
Binghamton University Food Pantry	Food and personal care items	bpantry@binghamton.edu
CARE team	Case managers are assigned to help students through a range of complex situations through education, resources, and advocacy	dos@binghamton.edu 607-777-2804
Laptop loaner program	Laptops are lent out to students who need them to successfully complete their academic studies	dos@binghamton.edu 607-777-2804
Visions Financial Wellness Program	Students can meet 1:1 with a financial wellness educator for individualized support with personal finance questions	finwell@binghamton.edu

Grants

Grants are designed to alleviate financial strain and do not need to be repaid. Please note that grant funding is competitive and limited, and not all eligible students will receive support. All grants listed require an online application, and it is important to remember that a high-quality application will improve your chances of receiving funding.

For all students

Grant	Award amount	Who is eligible	Application Process
Binghamton University Student Emergency Fund Grant	Maximum $500 to cover eligible expenses, which include medications, housing, and travel costs for special circumstances	Must be a currently enrolled Binghamton University student and demonstrate financial need	Apply online and provide information about your circumstances and needs
Professional Development Fund	Up to $500 for an approved professional development opportunity (such as conferences, test fees, professional clothing, etc.)	Must be a currently enrolled Binghamton University student pursuing a professional development activity	Apply online and provide details about the opportunity and associated costs
Internship Funds	Varied, ranging from $1,000 to $15,000	Must be a current student pursuing a summer internship experience. Depending on the fund, there may be additional requirements (such as class year, major, financial need, or type of internship).	Apply online and provide details about the internship and your level of need.
External scholarships	Varied	Must be a current student. Each scholarship has different requirements.	Apply for scholarships online or visit the office in UU-260.
SAR Scholarship Database	Varied	Each scholarship has different requirements.	Apply online. Applications open in March/April and are awarded for the upcoming year.
International Education Scholarships	Varied	Must be a current student pursuing education abroad. Some scholarships have additional requirements (including class year, major, demographics, financial need, etc).	Apply online.
International Student Scholarships	Varied	Must be an international student, with some having additional requirements (such as program of study, financial need, merit, etc).	Apply online.

For undergraduate students

Grant	Award amount	Who is eligible	Application Process
Harpur Edge Student Support Fund	Up to $1,000 to pursue experiential learning opportunities.	Currently matriculated Harpur College of Arts and Sciences undergraduate students with a minimum GPA of 2.75. Students must have a FAFSA on file and those with financial need who have not previously received support through this fund will have priority.	Apply online and provide information about your needs and the opportunity you will be pursuing.
Harpur High-Impact Student Learning Endowment	Up to $4,000 to participate in a University-approved, high-impact learning opportunity.	Must be a current undergraduate student enrolled in the Harpur College of Arts and Science with a GPA of at least 2.75, priority given to students with financial need	Apply online and demonstrate that you have a well-developed experiential education pursuit that will contribute to your personal and intellectual growth.
Scholars Award	$3,500 to participate in education abroad, summer community service projects, research, creative activities, internships, or an approved conference	Must be a current student in the Binghamton University Scholars Program in good academic standing	Apply online.
Kaschak Summer Research Grant	Up to $1,500 for expenses directly related to a summer research project in the field of social justice for women and/or girls	Must be a current undergraduate student enrolled in the Harpur College of Arts and Science with a GPA of at least 3.0	Apply online and include a written report on your research.
Pre-Law Grants, Awards, and Scholarships	$400-$5,000	Must be an undergraduate student on the pre-law track. Each individual fund may have additional requirements that vary (including financial need, demographics, interests, class year, etc).	Apply online. Each has different instructions, with many requiring essays.

For graduate students

Grant	Award amount	Who is eligible	Application Process
Graduate Student Organization Travel or Research Funds	Up to $400 per student per application and lifetime maximum of $2,800 per student to support travel expenses for conference and research opportunities.	Must be a current graduate student traveling to participate in a recognized conference or research opportunity.	Apply online for retroactive reimbursement, providing all receipts and necessary documentation.
Graduate Student Organization Conference Allocation and Funding Endowment (CAFE)	Up to $1,000 to support and fund conferences sponsored by the Graduate Community.	Must be a current graduate student.	Apply online and provide detailed information about the proposed event and budget.
Graduate Student Organization Preschool Fund	Up to $150 per semester per child.	Must be a current graduate student with a child attending a licensed daycare center.	Apply online.
Harpur College Graduate Student Grants	Up to $2,000 to provide funding that will foster the research, creative activities, scholarship, and professional development of graduate students.	Must be a current student enrolled in a master's or PhD program in Harpur College.	Apply online with your CV, description of your proposed activity to be funded, and an itemized budget.

Loans

Loans serve as a financial lifeline for students, offering a means to cover educational expenses such as tuition, books, and living costs. These monetary advances provide students with the necessary funds to invest in their education, with the expectation of repayment on a predetermined schedule.

Loan	Award amount	How to apply	Repayment
Short-Term Uncollateralized Emergency Loans	Maximum $250 for undergraduate students and $500 for graduate students	Complete a Student Loan Application at the Foundation Accounting Services window in Old O’Connor G042.	Must be repaid within 8 weeks or before the last day of classes, whichever is first.
Short-Term Collateralized Loans	Maximum $500 for undergraduate students and maximum $600 for graduate students	Apply at the Financial Aid & Student Records Office (Admissions Center, Rm 112). You must provide some kind of collateral, such as student aid checks, to be approved for this loan.	Must be repaid within 8 weeks or before the last day of classes, whichever is first.
Federal Nursing Loan	Varies depending on class year and financial need (maximum $5,460-$8,400). Must be a current nursing student.	Application for this type of financial aid is done by filling out and submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and basic eligibility requirements must be met, as determined by the federal government.	There is a fixed interest rate of 5%, which the federal government pays while the student is enrolled in at least 6 credits and during a nine-month grace period. After this point, the loan is repaid the way a traditional student loan is.